CHARLESTON, S.C. (September 16, 2012) â€“ Venus Williams led the Washington Kastles to their second consecutive World TeamTennistitle today with a 20-19 victory over the Sacramento Capitals at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C. Williams was also named the Finals MVP, winning her sets in women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the decisive final set of women’s singles.

The win gives the Kastles 32 consecutive match wins, the second longest streak in U.S. pro sports history. The top mark is 33, held by the NBA’s 1971-72 Lakers.

With the overall score tied at 15-15 heading into the final set, Williams edged Coco Vandeweghe 5-4 in women’s singles to give the Kastles their third title in the past four seasons. Although Williams was part of championship teams in Philadelphia and Washington, this was the first time she had played in the championship match. She credited her Kastles teammates for giving her the edge in a tight final set. “I had to come out on fire today,” said Williams. “Knowing I had to play for my team was motivating.”

“Coco played her heart out,” said Sacramento coach Wayne Bryan. ” I’m very proud of our team and congratulations to the Kastles.”

Sacramento led early when Kevin Anderson defeated Bobby Reynolds in the opening set, winning men’s singles 5-3. Anderson served up three aces and won 79 percent of his first serve points compared to 61 percent for Reynolds.

Washington broke Asia Muhammad’s serve twice in women’s doubles and closed out the set on Venus Williams’ serve, 5-1.

Men’s doubles was highlighted by brilliant shot-making by the Kastles’ Leander Paes but it was the Caps that broke Paes serve for a 2-1 lead. Anderson pushed the lead to 4-2 on his serve and broke Paes serve for a second time to take the set 5-2 and lead 11-10 at halftime.

Coach Wayne Bryan started Anderson in mixed doubles to take advantage of his big serve and the strategy worked as Sacramento won the first game and broke Paes serve to lead 2-0. Washington broke back against Vandeweghe’s serve then Williams held to tie the set at 2-2. After a seesaw battle that evened the score at 4-all, Washington pulled out the set win in a 9-point tiebreak, 5-4 (1).

CHARLESTON, S.C. (September 15, 2012) â€“The Washington Kastles extended their win streak to 31 matches and moved one step closer to another undefeated season with a 19-15 win over the New York Sportimes at the WTT Eastern Conference ChampionshipÂ on Saturday at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.

Washington will face the Western Conference Champion Sacramento Capitals on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in the WTT Finals. The Kastles are the defending WTT champions, winning the 2011 WTT title with an undefeated 16-0 season.

With the score tied at 14-14 heading into the final set of women’s singles, Ashley Harkleroad gave New York the overall lead with a break of Venus Williams’ serve in the opening game. Williams immediately broke back and ran out the set and the match 5-1. “I enjoy the pressure and there was so much pressure today to keep the streak going and get into the Finals,” said Williams.

It didn’t take long for the Washington Kastles to take early control of the match, with 2012 WTT Male MVP Bobby Reynolds and Leander Paes teaming up for a 5-2 win over John McEnroe and Robert Kendrick.

The Sportimes battled back in mixed doubles to even the match after two sets with a 5-2 win. Kveta Peschke started with McEnroe and ended the set with Robert Kendrick for the victory over Venus Williams and Leander Paes.

In men’s singles, the steady play of Reynolds was too much for New York’s Jesse Witten as Reynolds won the set 5-2, giving the Kastles a 12-9 halftime lead.

Peschke and Ashley Harkleroad upended Williams and Anastasia Rodionova in women’s doubles 5-2 to even the match at 14-all heading into the final set.

The key to the Kastles victory was playing the big points better than New York. Washington won seven of ten 3-all points throughout the five sets. “We had to play hard,” said Paes. “Hats off to New York, they threw everything at us. I am so happy to be on this Kastles team. This is what we do, we fight together as a team. Tomorrow’s final will be a real highlight of the season.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (September 14, 2012) — There has been a lot of talk about the Washington Kastles historic 30-match win streak leading into the WTT Finals Weekend presented by GEICO, but the Sacramento Capitals will have an opportunity to make history of their own after defeating the Orange County Breakers 25-15 to win the WTT Western Conference Championship and a spot in Sunday’s WTT Finals at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C.

The Capitals will be vying for a League-best seventh Championship title on Sunday when they face the winner of Saturday’s New York Sportimes-Washington Kastles Eastern Conference Championship match.

Sacramento jumped out to an early lead with a first set win in men’s singles. Kevin Anderson overpowered the Breakers’ John-Patrick Smith 5-3. Anderson started mixed doubles and won the first game on the South African’s big serve before Caps coach Wayne Bryan brought in doubles great Mark Knowles to join Coco Vandeweghe. Knowles was spectacular, hitting winners and leading the Caps to a 5-4 set win with Yasmin Schnack, who replaced Vandeweghe at 2-2.

Sacramento took a commanding 15-8 halftime lead after Anderson and Knowles overpowered Smith and Travis Parrott in men’s doubles, 5-1. Coco Vandeweghe edged the Breakers’ Jana Juricova 5-4 in women’s singles to give the Caps an eight-game lead going into the final set.

Schnack and Asia Muhammad closed out the victory for Sacramento with a 5-3 win over Groenefeld and Juricova in women’s doubles.

WTT action continues at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. when Venus Williams leads the Washington Kastles against the New York Sportimes with John McEnroe. The Kastles are riding a 30-match win streak that started with their unbeaten 2011 season, giving them the second longest U.S. pro sports team win streak in history.

The roster for the Kastles includes Williams, Leander Paes, 2012 WTT Male MVP Bobby Reynolds, Anastasia Rodionova and Arina Rodionova. McEnroe will be joined by Jesse Witten, Robert Kendrick, Kveta Peschke and Ashley Harkleroad for the Sportimes.

Ticket specials for the WTT Finals Weekend are available through the Family Circle Tennis Center box office, which opens at 9 a.m. on Saturday. For tickets, travel packages or more information, please contact the Box Office at 1-800-677-2293 or visit www.familycirclecup.com.

Final results from the WTT Western Conference Championship presented by GEICO: